Kennebunk Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about Kennebunk Beach. The next two weeks are a marathon of small, weak surf, and honestly, there’s not a single day that screams "drop everything and go." We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, short-period waves that are barely scratching the surface.

The first real pulse of energy doesn’t show up until late in the game. Right now, through the rest of August and into the start of September, it’s a flat spell. The swell is tiny, mostly from the SE, with heights barely cracking 3ft. The wind is all over the place, but even when it’s glassy or offshore, the waves are just too small to get excited about. The combined energy is weak, rarely breaking 100 (like 27, 73, 72), so it’s just a lot of small, sloppy water.

We hit a bit of a turning point on Wednesday, August 26th, afternoon. The swell jumps up to a 2ft SE swell, but the period stretches to 15 seconds, and the energy finally climbs to 226 (moderate). The wind turns gentle offshore from the NE, cleaning things up. The comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary," and that’s the honest truth. It’s the first hint of something better, but still nothing to write home about.

The Thursday, August 27th morning and afternoon keep that moderate energy (201 and 172) with a solid offshore breeze from the NE and ENE. The swell is still only 2ft, but that 12-13 second period means it’s a proper groundswell, giving it a bit more shape. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s still a marginal call.

The real standout, and I mean the only one worth a special mention, is the Sunday, August 30th. The afternoon sees a 5ft SE swell, with a 13-second period, and the combined energy rockets to 1374 (very strong). The wind is a gentle cross-off from the north. That’s a big, clean wall of water for a sheltered spot. The score is a 2/10, but compared to the rest of this forecast, it’s the top of the pops. A 5ft swell at a beach break with that much energy might be a bit much for beginners, but for the experienced crew, it’s the only window that looks proper.

The Monday, August 31st morning goes glassy with a 3ft ESE swell, but the energy drops back to 186. It’s another "surfable but ordinary" session.

The long and short of it: the first week is a total write-off. The second week has a few days with better energy and cleaner wind, but the swell size is still small. The Sunday, August 30th afternoon is the one to circle on the calendar. Don’t get your hopes up for anything else.

The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is about 2° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus, but it won’t make the waves any bigger.

Stay patient, keep an eye on the charts, and don't burn the gas money for a knee-high dribble.

Rusty.

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